Blasts at Hyderabad: 30 killed, 40 injured

At least 30 people died and 40 were injured in two blasts at two places in Hyderabad on Saturday evening.  ( Watch Video )

The blasts occurred at around 1930 hrs IST-the first at Lumbini Park on Necklace Road near the state Secretariat and the second 15 minutes later at Gokul Chat shop, a popular eating joint in Koti. The two places are eight km apart.

State Home Minister K Jana Reddy said 24 people died at Gokul Chat and six at Lumbini Park.

Several hundred people had gathered at an auditorium in Lumbini Park for a laser show off the Hussain Sagar Lake. Reddy said around 500 people were in the auditorium when the blast ripped through the middle row of seats.

Reddy alleged the state government had got intelligence inputs that Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence planned terror attacks in the state.

Chief Minister YSR Reddy after visiting Lumbini Park said the blasts were an act of terror. "I request everyone to maintain calm. This is definitely an act of terror," he said.

The nature of blasts is not known but Additional Commissioner of Police Uma Maheswari Rao told CNN-IBN explosive material was used at least in Lumbini Park.

The police have cordoned off the two places and are searching railway stations and bus depots in the city. The injured have been taken to Mediciti Hospital and Osmania Hospital.

Security in Hyderabad has been tightened in view of 10,000 weddings on Sunday. This is the second major terror attack in the city this year. At least 12 people died and several were injured in a blast at the city's Mecca Masjid mosque on May 18 this year.

Centre blames terrorists

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh expressed deep concern over the blasts and the Union Home Ministry said it was monitoring the situation in Hyderabad.

Union Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal said the blasts were the handiwork of a terrorist group. "One terrorist group or the other, which is bent on destroying the unity of the country, is certainly involved in the blasts in Hyderabad," he said.

The Union Home Ministry has sought a report from the Andhra Pradesh government on the situation in Hyderabad. "The Home ministry is in constant touch with the state government," said a ministry spokesperson.

Union Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta spoke to the State Chief Secretary to monitor the situation and sought details of the incidents.

(Courtesy: ibnlive.com)